In John Main’s talk “The Way of the Mantra” he says that the invitation of the Christian life is to be one with Christ; to live your life in union with Christ. Silent prayer is a communion in which we discover within ourselves a oneness with Christ. This union takes us right out of ourselves as we become the people we are called to be; rooted and founded in love.

So how do we apply this practice when we are stressed, when we are in mental or physical pain, or when life isn’t going our way? I think the answer is to turn to the mantra. Begin meditation and stick with it. Forget the words of prayer and center on the silence. Soon, the mantra will soothe your mind and body. Whatever the trouble is, it will lessen and eventually will vanish completely. This is union with Christ, our Christian challenge.

In John Main’s talk “The Peace of Christ” he tells us that it is through meditation that we find our way into the peace of Christ. But how do we hang on to this peace in these troubled times?

Any woman who’s ever been a mother will tell you how it completely transforms you. You are no longer focused on yourself, but focused on the child. We need to safeguard our own serenity the way a mother would safeguard her child against hurt, danger, negative situations and unhealthy choices, by becoming our own mothers. We need to see ourselves as the children of God that we are. As Christians, we are called to turn away from forms of negative entertainment and news, anger, violence, grudge-holding, revenge, self-destructive habits, gossip, and so many things that the culture, media and society are pushing on us these days. Safeguarding our serenity is asking ourselves silently in all situations, “What would Christ do?” This is the essence of Christianity. This is what sets Christians apart from other religion’s followers. There is a Catholic hymn that goes like this: And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.